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Lecture Capture (via Echo360)

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Overview

KU IT provides Lecture Capture service via Echo360. This service enables faculty to schedule automatic recordings of lectures or presentations or create ad hoc captures. This provides students with a powerful tool that can be used for review, to supplement materials covered in class, or to provide instruction that is entirely web-based. The captured recordings can be viewed via a web browser and/or can be downloaded to a computer or mobile device.

For more information about KU's Lecture Capture service, please select from the following:

Faculty

There are two options for Lecture Capture (Echo360) at KU: 1) Classroom Capture: Creating recordings via equipment and software already installed in classrooms; and 2) Personal Capture: Creating recordings via webcam/microphone and software installed on your work or personal desktop or laptop computer.

For more information about Lecture Capture for faculty, select from the following:

Benefits of Using Lecture Capture

Maximize Class Time – Whether you’re flipping the classroom or recording feedback on test results, Lecture Capture helps you use valuable class time for more engagement, discussions and group learning activities.

Improve Learning Outcomes and Satisfaction – Providing students with 24/7 online access to lectures, course materials and collaboration tools has been proven to improve learning outcomes and boost student satisfaction.

Customize and Re-purpose Your Content – Lecture Capture gives you the freedom to personalize and record content at your convenience using Personal Capture. Create media-rich presentations or prepare students for lab exercises. You’ll also save time by updating and re-purposing content for future courses.

Forecast Problem Areas – With built-in analytics, you no longer have to worry about whether students have a firm grasp of course concepts. Using the Lecture Capture detailed statistics, you can predict trouble spots well before they start to impact grades.

How Faculty are Using Lecture Capture

Lecture Capture provides a wide range of options for faculty to expand their instruction. Here are a few ways you might use Lecture Capture in your classes:

Excused Absences

Instructors do not have to post every lecture online for students to view. Lecture Capture allows instructors to record lectures to be viewed only by students whom have excused absences. This allows students to stay current with the class lectures even if they have to be gone. The instructor has full control over which lectures get published.

Publish Everything

Lecture Capture provides a common place for instructors to post all of their lectures online for students to view. Whether you choose to publish to Blackboard or to a web site, Lecture Capture provides an opportunity for students to review lectures they heard in class, make notes and get clarification on topics in the lecture.

Self-Evaluation

Recording lectures is a great way to review teaching techniques and presentation. Instructors can evaluate themselves by watching their own lectures, and by looking at feedback from students. The Echo360 EchoCenter Player features heat-mapping that shows what parts of the recording students reviewed most, spots where they may be having trouble. Students can post comments in the Echo discussion board which are time stamped and associated with a point in the lecture. They can also create personal bookmarks to mark points in the lecture they like, and points where they need more explanation. These features help you understand where students have concerns and can help you redesign your course for the next semester.

Accessibility

Accessibility is a major concern when moving course content online. Use this service to capture in-class sign language translators so that students with a hearing impairment can still use the courses online content. Students will see the slides or other course content while also seeing a video window of sign language translators.

Flip The Classroom

Use Personal Capture to record lectures, upload them before class and require students to view before arriving. This allows time during class to work problems together, review concepts and apply learned material from the lecture.

Learning Modules

Changing small details in a lecture allows for the creation of “learning modules.” For example, removing date specific material from a lecture allows for that lecture to be used multiple times in future courses. Record all lectures in this way and at the end of the semester you will have a set of lectures that can be used over and over again.

Online and Hybrid Courses

Record lectures via Personal Capture or re-use “learning module” lectures that have already been created to enhance an online or hybrid course. The KU Center for Online and Distance Learning (CODL) can help you with an overall instructional design for your online or hybrid course and how best to incorporate captured lecture materials for the online and distance learner. Contact CODL at onlinelearning@ku.edu or 785-864-1000.

Live Stream Courses

If you are teaching in a classroom where an Echo360 SafeCapture HD » appliance is installed, you can live-stream your courses for students or others to view in real time. Live stream recording must be scheduled by completing the Lecture Capture Request Form. Notify support staff if you need to live stream when your schedule your recording. If your classroom does not have an Echo360 SafeCapture HD appliance, you can use another service to live stream. See Schedule Live Streaming Event for more information.

Create Pre-class Videos

Use Personal Capture (See "Using Personal Capture" below) to create short 5 - 10 minutes videos for students to view before class. Record an introduction to your course and post it to Blackboard, introducing your students to the syllabus and other topics that will be discussed during the course. This is a great way to provide quick update for students or introduce them to ideas that will be discussed in a future class.

Using Classroom Capture

Some classrooms are equipped with Echo360 SafeCapture HD » appliances, but most will have Classroom Capture software installed on the classroom computer. Classrooms that have Classroom Capture installed will also have cameras with built-in microphones to enable you to capture your classroom lecture. You can complete the Lecture Capture Request Form ahead of time or create a recording in an ad hoc fashion. Submitting your request ahead of time will save you time in the classroom.

Get Started with Classroom Capture

Request an Account:
To create an account, and schedule a recording, complete the KU Lecture Capture Request Form. After you complete this form, IT support staff will contact you for a brief consultation.

Classroom Setup:
As you are setting up in the classroom, make sure the computer is on and you are logged in for both previously scheduled recordings and ad hoc recordings.

Schedule Recordings

Setting Up Lecture Capture for the Entire Semester

To ensure availability of a Lecture Capture classroom, and to avoid delays in getting lectures posted to Blackboard, we recommend that you schedule your Lecture Capture as early as possible – at least one month prior to the start of the term. Here are the steps to schedule recordings for the entire semester:

If you want to automatically publish captured videos to Blackboard, please provide the following information:

The 5-digit CRN of the course you would like to record.

The Course ID for the Blackboard course you would like the links to be posted to. If you want the lecture posted in more than one course, or you have a multi-section Blackboard course, be sure to specify.

To locate the Course ID for your Blackboard course, go to the Blackboard course and click on Files in the Control Panel. The Course ID will appear underneath.

Once you have booked your classroom and scheduled your recordings, you are all set – just show up and hold class as usual. Your class will be recorded at the scheduled time and will be posted in Blackboard automatically. You will receive an email notification when the link has been posted.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel class, contact the IT Lecture Capture Coordinator at lecturecapture@ku.edu or Media Production Studio at 785-864-6452 to cancel the recording for the day.

Setting Up a One-time Recording

In addition to recording your regular classes, you can also schedule one-time recordings, such as for another section you will miss or to record special class sessions (e.g., guest speakers, class presentations, etc.). Instructors can also schedule a practice recording session so they can see how the room is set up and how lectures will look for students. To schedule a practice session, contact the support staff for your classroom location.

When using Classroom Capture (on a podium based PC) to capture lectures, you can control various aspects of the capture through the Classroom Capture dialog box in the Windows 7 system tray. To open this dialog box, click on the Echo icon in the system tray. Normally you will not need to make any adjustments to a scheduled classroom capture, but the Classroom Capture dialog box allows you to:

Share Your Lecture

There are two ways to publish your lectures and share them with students and colleagues:

Publish to email and EchoCenter:
This option allows anyone who has the web address for your videos to view them. This method is great for streaming videos on a website or sharing your videos with colleagues outside of KU.

Publish your lectures to Blackboard:
This method requires the viewer to log in to Blackboard before they can view your lectures. This method restricts viewing to those students who are enrolled in your Blackboard course and also allows for the collection of more detailed viewing statistics for your lecture videos. Enables video heat-mapping, unique video view counts and more.

The method of publishing you prefer will be set up during your initial consultation with the IT Lecture Capture Coordinator or local Lecture Capture administrator. If you have questions about publishing and sharing your lecture videos contact the support staff for the location where you will be recording (see "Lecture Capture Help below).

Using Personal Capture

Personal Capture (Echo360) is software you install on your computer to give you the freedom to create and edit customized instructional content whenever and wherever inspiration strikes. You can use Personal Capture to record lectures, upload them before class and require students to view before arriving. This allows time during class to work problems together, review concepts and apply learned material from the lecture. If you know students are struggling with a specific concept, you can create a short explanatory video to help them master the concept.

Installing Personal Capture

Installing Personal Capture on a KU-owned Computer:

If you are using a university-owned computer, contact your departmental technology support staff to assist you with the installation.

KU IT Knowledge Base Articles:

Viewing and Sharing Recordings

After your lecture has been successfully recorded, your video needs to be processed, and in some cases edited, before it can be shared.

Processing Your Recording

After your class is over, the recording needs to be processed before you can share it.

About 3-6 hours after your class session, your recorded lecture will be available.

If you don’t see your lecture after 12 hours, try the following:

Double-check to ensure that you have a EchoCenter button in your Blackboard course in the left side navigation.

Try switching browsers. Blackboard does not work well with Internet Explorer 9 – both Mac and PC users are encouraged to use Firefox.

Contact the IT Lecture Capture Coordinator at lecturecapture@ku.edu or Media Production Studio at 785-864-6452 for help if the button is missing, or if you do not receive an email with the recording link.

You will receive an email that has a link to your recording [View screenshot]. To open the recording, click on the first link underneath the capture date and time. The link will have the name of your course or the name of your recording as the title. If the link does not open from the email, you can copy the link and paste it directly into your browser.

Editing Your Recording

Important: Lecure Capture (Echo360) recordings can only be edited for 180 days from the date recorded. After that time they can be viewed but not edited.

Your respective Edwards or Lawrence IT support staff are available to show you how to perform basic edits. This topic is also covered in the Lecture Capture Training Workshop. Basic instructions are also available on Echo360's Edit Echoes »

Sharing Your Recording

When you request a scheduled recording, you can ask to have your recording linked to your Blackboard course.

You and your students will be able to access your recording through Blackboard using the EchoCenter button, which will appear automatically after the first recording is processed.

To make a lecture unavailable, or to limit its availability, first click on the EchoCenter button to enter that website. Then click on the chevron next to the name of the recording and select Edit. Here, you will find options for changing the recording’s availability.

If you want to share a web link outside of Blackboard, the recording needs to be set to be "all access" so that KU authentication is not required. The IT Lecture Capture Coordinator at lecturecapture@ku.edu can make that change if necessary.

You can use the link you received in your email, when the processing was completed, or

You can go into Blackboard, click on the EchoCenter button, then click on the recording you want to share. A browser window will open.

Copy the web address from your browser.

Paste this link in an email or anywhere else you might want to use it.

Please inform the recipient that they need to COPY the link and paste it into a browser. Clicking on it from inside the email will not work.

Be aware that if you share a recording this way, it can be shared with anyone, anywhere.

Troubleshooting Playback Issues

If that does not work, contact the IT Lecture Capture Coordinator at lecturecapture@ku.edu or Media Production Studio at 785-864-6452.

Students

Lecture Capture (Echo360) allows you to learn at your own pace by making it easy to play back lectures and other course materials as often as you need to, bookmark sections within lectures so that you can go back and review them, and participate in online discussions with your instructors and other students. You have the ability to move forward or backward in a presentation to particular segments of the captured session. The captures can be viewed via a web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari), and/or be downloaded to a computer or mobile device.

Getting Started with Lecture Capture

Faculty

Step One: Create a Lecture Capture Account:
To create an account, and schedule a recording, complete the KU Lecture Capture Request Form ». After you submit the form, IT support staff will contact you for a brief consultation.

Step Two: Equiptment Check:

Is Your Room Equipped for Lecture Capture?

Lawrence Campus:

If your room does not have Lecture Capture listed as an amenity, contact IT Classroom Support at 785-864-1200 to discuss alternatives for relocating your class or to request that equipment can be added.

Edwards Campus:

Edwards Campus Classrooms Equipped for Lecture Capture

BEST:

Regents Center:

Regnier Hall:

110A
110B
120
160
165
170
215
225
230
235
310
320
325
330
335

100
108
110

151
152
153
164
165
356

If your room is not listed above, please contact KU Edwards Educational Technology at kuec_edtech@ku.edu or 913-897-8719 to discuss alternatives.

Next Steps:

If your room has an Echo360 SafeCapture HD » appliance installed and you schedule your recordings in advance (see "Step Three: Schedule Recordings" below), you do not need to do anything when you arrive. The recording will begin and end automatically.

If your room has Classroom Capture installed, see "Faculty > Using Classroom Capture" on the "Overview" tab before your class.

Review "Faculty > Using Personal Capture" on the "Overview" tab to determine if you want to use that to record short clips for your class, outside of the classroom.

Step Three: Schedule Recordings:

Setting Up Lecture Capture for the Entire Semester

To ensure availability of a Lecture Capture classroom, and to avoid delays in getting lectures posted to Blackboard, we recommend that you schedule your Lecture Capture as early as possible – at least one month prior to the start of the term. Here are the steps to schedule recordings for the entire semester:

If you want to automatically publish captured videos to Blackboard, please provide the following information:

The 5-digit CRN of the course you would like to record.

The Course ID for the Blackboard course you would like the links to be posted to. If you want the lecture posted in more than one course, or you have a multi-section Blackboard course, be sure to specify.

To locate the Course ID for your Blackboard course, go to the Blackboard course and click on Files in the Control Panel. The Course ID will appear underneath.

Once you have booked your classroom and scheduled your recordings, you are all set – just show up and hold class as usual. Your class will be recorded at the scheduled time and will be posted in Blackboard automatically. You will receive an email notification when the link has been posted.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel class, contact the IT Lecture Capture Coordinator at lecturecapture@ku.edu or Media Production Studio at 785-864-6452 to cancel the recording for the day.

Setting Up a One-time Recording

In addition to recording your regular classes, you can also schedule one-time recordings, such as for another section you will miss or to record special class sessions (e.g., guest speakers, class presentations, etc.). Instructors can also schedule a practice recording session so they can see how the room is set up and how lectures will look for students. To schedule a practice session, contact the support staff for your classroom location.

Students

Instructors have the option of making recordings available to students through Blackboard and/or by providing a direct link in an email. Below are instructions for accessing recordings and live streaming events in Blackboard.

On the right side, are navigation buttons. Click on Scene to find thumbnails of the video. You can click on any thumbnail to start the recording at that spot. Use the discussion feature if you want to post comments or question which watching the recording. NOTE: This discussion board is not connected to Blackboard. [View screenshot]

You can pause, rewind and review as many times as you want. You can find these buttons at the bottom of your webpage

Lawrence Campus:

Edwards Campus:

Lecture Capture - Recording Tips

When you record a lecture you need to think about how students will view it online. The following tips can help you create a good experience for students viewing your recording:

Audio - Improving What Students Hear

Face the Microphone:
Be aware that if you turn toward the whiteboard, you are likely turning away from the microphone. This can result in audio that cannot be heard in the recording. Face outward when making important points.

Repeating Questions and Private Conversations:
Some rooms will do a better job of capturing audio from the students than others. If your room equipped with a webcam, you may want to repeat student questions so they are included in the recording. Be careful not to have a private conversation with a student near the lectern microphone while recording.

Video: Improving What Students See

Pointing to Screen:
When you point to things on the board or screen, remember that students may not be able to see that detail in the video – be sure to describe where you are pointing (e.g. “Click here, on the red button that says Start.”)

Using Whiteboards:
Lecture Capture recording does not capture writing on regular classroom whiteboards very well. You can only see it from a distance in the video and there may be a glare from the overhead lights. If your classroom has a SMART Sympodium installed you can use it to write on the computer screen using an interactive pen. If you use the SMART Sympodium pen to write on your computer screen, be sure to write in large letters – they are easier to read in the recording. Some rooms have a document camera connected to the Echo appliance and this makes another good alternative to the whiteboard, digitally capturing your writing to the recording.

Video Inputs and Instructor Camera:
Depending on the technology in your room, your recording will have one or two video feeds. All recordings will have the computer feed in the main window of the recording. Some rooms will also have a camera feed that will display you, the instructor, in the top right corner of the recording. If you are in a room with an instructor camera, it is good to be aware of the range (ie, walking "off screen"). The camera captures the front of the room only. If you want to stay in the view of the camera, it is generally recommended that you stand near the podium.

Computer or Laptop:
Lecture Capture works best capturing the screen of the podium computer in the classroom. (On the Lawrence campus, you will need to log into the classroom computer with your KU ID.) Many instructors prepare a PowerPoint or simply open up a web browser to show images, websites and other material during the lecture. Important: The recording will capture anything that is shown on the computer screen, so be sure to close any email or other private documents you don’t want students to see!

Playing Videos:
You can play online videos like those from YouTube but be aware that the recorded results may be slightly jumpy.

Sticking to Start and End Times

The Lecture Capture system is set up to record during your scheduled class time. If you start a few minutes early, or end up going a few minutes over, you may lose part of your lecture in the recording.

Using Videos in Future Classes

Student Video Authorization and Release Forms:
If student presentations or other interaction were recorded, and you plan to reuse your recording, you need to have students sign a Student Video Authorization and Release form.

Using the Instructor Camera:
If your recording includes an instructor camera, and you think you might reuse this recording in the future, consider looking directly into the camera from time to time. Your future students will feel more like you are speaking directly to them.

Troubleshooting Lecture Capture

Try switching browsers if you are not using Firefox, the recommended browser for PC and Mac.

Lecture Capture Frequently Asked Questions - Faculty

Below are answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Lecture Capture at KU for faculty. For additional questions, please contact the IT Customer Service Center at itcsc@ku.edu or 784-864-8080.

General Questions

Who Can Use Lecture Capture?

Anyone who is teaching or presenting in a campus classroom can request a recording by completing the Lecture Capture Request Form. Students can access recordings that are posted in Blackboard. If the instructor requests an open course, anyone who is given the web address can view the recording. In addition, faculty can create recordings outside of their classroom using Echo360's Personal Capture (see "Faculty > Using Personal Capture" on the "Overview" tab) software.

What Are the Benefits of Using Lecture Capture?

Lecture Capture (Echo360) provides faculty new ways to develop content, increase class interactivity, measure usage and improve outcomes. One example is the ability to "flip" a classroom. In a “flipped” classroom students can view lectures online before class. This approach creates a classroom environment that encourages interactivity and collaboration. Students are able to use class time to ask questions and work through problems with the guidance of faculty and the support of their peers - creating a more collaborative learning environment. Another use is to provide students the ability to review tough content areas at their own speed after class, and repeat as necessary, thus enhancing their ability to learn the material. To get more ideas about how to use Lecture Capture in your class see "Faculty > How Faculty are Using Lecture Capture" on the "Overview" tab.

How Get Started?

If you want to record, the first step is to request an account and schedule a recording by completing the Lecture Capture Request Form. Viewing can be done in Blackboard or online, depending on the restrictions applied to the recording.

How Can I Get Lecture Capture Help?

Support:

For Lecture Capture questions and support, contact the support group for the location where you will be recording:

Lawrence Campus - IT Lecture Capture Coordinator at lecturecapture@ku.edu or Media Production Studio at 785-864-6452

Workshops:

Where Can I Use Lecture Capture?

Lecture Capture (Echo360) can be used in any classroom that is equipped for the service (see "Is My Room Equipped for Lecture Capture" below). Instructors can also install Personal Capture for use on their desktop or laptop computers. For more information about Personal Capture, see "Faculty > Using Personal Capture" on the "Overview" tab.

Is My Room Equipped for Lecture Capture?

Lawrence Campus:

If your room does not have Lecture Capture listed as an amenity, contact IT Classroom Support at 785-864-1200 to discuss alternatives for relocating your class or to request that equipment can be added.

Edwards Campus:

Edwards Campus Classrooms Equipped for Lecture Capture

BEST:

Regents Center:

Regnier Hall:

110A
110B
120
160
165
170
215
225
230
235
310
320
325
330
335

100
108
110

151
152
153
164
165
356

If your room is not listed above, please contact KU Edwards Educational Technology at kuec_edtech@ku.edu or 913-897-8719 to discuss alternatives.

Next Steps:

If your room has an Echo360 SafeCapture HD » appliance installed, and you schedule your recordings in advance (see "Step Three: Schedule Recordings" below), you do not need to do anything when you arrive. The recording will begin and end automatically.

If your room has Classroom Capture installed, see "Faculty > Using Classroom Capture" on the "Overview" tab before your class.

Review "Faculty > Using Personal Capture" on the "Overview" tab to determine if you want to use that to record short clips for your class, outside of the classroom.

Can I Record on My Computer?

Yes. First, you will need to request an account by completing the Lecture Capture Request Form and install Personal Capture software on your computer. If your computer is university-owned, ask your departmental technology support staff to do the installation for you. You can use Personal Capture to make recordings when you are not in the classroom. (When you are in the classroom you will use Classroom Capture installed on the computer in the classroom.) For more information about Personal Capture, see "Faculty > Using Personal Capture" on the "Overview" tab.

Is Training Available?

Yes. Instructor training is provided on the Lawrence and Edwards campuses by KU IT Educational Technologists. You can sign up online for a Lecture Capture training workshop on the Lawrence campus. Individual training is available on the Edwards campus. Please contact Steve Werninger at swerninger@ku.edu to schedule training at Edwards.

Can I Live Stream Lectures?

Live streaming using Lecture Capture can only be done in rooms that are equipped with an Echo360 SafeCapture HD » appliance. Contact the IT Lecture Capture Coordinator at lecturecapture@ku.edu or 785-864-1200 to determine if your room has an appliance. If not, live streaming can be done through a different service. See Schedule a Live Streaming Event for that service.

What Browser Can I Use?

Firefox is the recommended browser for all platforms (Windows, Mac and Linux). Chrome is supported on Windows and Mac only. For more information, see Echo360's Supported Technologies ».

Are There KU policies I Should Be Aware of When Using Lecture Capture?

For How Long After I Record Can I Edit my Recordings?

You can edit Lecture Capture recordings for up to 180 days after they are created. If necessary, contact the IT Lecture Capture Coordinator at lecturecapture@ku.edu or Media Production Studio at 785-864-6452 for an extension. By default, Lecture Capture videos are archived for five years. Recordings will be deleted after five years unless you notify the Lecture Capture Coordinator in advance.

How Long Are Recordings Kept?

Recordings will be kept for five years, the same length of time that Blackboard course materials are saved. Recordings will be deleted after five years unless you notify the Lecture Capture Coordinator in advance. Please note that the recording can only be edited for 180 days after it is recorded.

Who Owns the Recordings?

Authors retain the copyright to Instructional Copyrightable Works, and the University retains an irrevocable license to use said works in any way that fulfills the University’s mission. The University retains copyright of recordings of a teaching performance made to, or for, students. If you have questions about copyright, please contact the Office of the General Counsel at 785-864-3276.

Sharing Your Recording

How Do I Publish to Blackboard?

A link to your Blackboard course can be created by KU IT support staff when the recording is scheduled. You can choose to keep recordings "unavailable" until you are ready to share them with your class, or the recordings can be set to automatically be available. To see how to change the availability of your recording visit Echo360's Make an Echo Available or Unavailable ».

What if I Don't Use Blackboard?

Each time you record, you will receive an email with a link to the recording. If you don't use Blackboard, you can share a link that allows anyone to see the video. Please indicate what method you will use to publish when you schedule your recording. For instructions, visit Echo360's Make an Echo Available or Unavailable ».

Can I Make My Recording Visible to People Outside of KU?

Yes. You can provide a link that allows anyone to view the video. Please indicate what method you will use to publish when you schedule your recording. To see instructions, visit Echo360's Make an Echo Available or Unavailable ».

Can I Restrict Access or Administer to My Video?

Yes. You are in control of who can access your video. You can: 1) Make the recording unavailable, 2) Only share with students who missed the class, 3) Share with all students in the class, or 4) Provide a link that allows anyone to view the video. To see instructions, visit Echo360's Make an Echo Available or Unavailable ».

Can I Import and Share Other Types of Recordings?

Yes. Echo360’s Media Upload option makes it easy for instructors to leverage existing content regardless of what tools were originally used to capture the content. To see instructions and a list of supported formats visit Echo360's Importing Other Media ».

Viewing Recordings

Can I Tell if My Students Have Watched a Video?

Yes. Course statistics and viewing analytics are provided. Course "heat maps" illustrate which sections students watched the most. A color-coded line shows what segments of an Echo students found:

How Can I Watch Recordings?

Most class lectures will be accessible through Blackboard. Others will be accessible through a link. See "Students" on the "Overview" tab more information.

What Devices Can I View Recordings On?

Recordings are accessible through your computer, and through web-enabled mobile devices including Apple iOS and Android devices. Live webcasts are only viewable through a computer, mobile devices are not supported.